Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

It's usually safe to pitch them after the broody gets up from the nest to take care of the new chicks. My broodies usually make a new nest a little away from the old one and that's my clue the old eggs are done. Generally 2 days after the last one hatched.

She's probably itching to get up with the babies - so she'll quit soon. If not, take one or two and candle them. They most likely aren't any good. Especially if they were shipped eggs - where a 50% hatch rate is typical. Also - the length of time depends on weather conditions in your area too - I don't see your location - if you were in VA like me your eggs would be hatching a couple of days early because we're in the 90s-100s and highly humid. So by Day 23 for me - they 'd be duds.

All the eggs I've candled after the pullets have moved from the nest have been duds.

We bought fertile eggs June 25th. 21 days was July 16th. Out of the 30 eggs, we have 15 chicks that have hatched.
How long after the 21 days should we leave the eggs that have not hatched? I dont want to pitch them if there is a chance that there is a "late bloomer" in the eggs.
Today, we are on day 23 under a broody hen.

 

[bobbieschicks]

As hot as its been here I don't hold out much hope that the shipped eggs will arrive in good shape. It's supposed to be 110F until the thunderstorms arrive tonight. Then it will "cool" down to the lower 90s.

Tempted to let the girls sit on the other girls' eggs as some are getting mated pretty regularly. Saw my WL get mated by the AM this morning. That was an unusual sighting. She hasn't been mated since I got rid of her brother in May.

 

[Wynette]

Good morning, friends!

Johnn - holy cannoli, what drama on your farm! I hope the two hens who dukes it out heal up okay!

blarney - neat pic showing your broody area - nice job on that - looks great! Are the hens still getting along?

bobbie - thanks for posting the info. on moving. VERY helpful!

I do have a question; I've got broody Giant momma that hatched one redhead chick this past Sunday; broody Marans momma is on day 10 and still holding tight. I'm wondering if I would be able to put BOTH mommas and babies all together in a large horse stall once the hatchlings from the 2nd batch are a week or so old; Redhead will then be 2 weeks. Would the hens get along? Would they harm the other hen's chicks?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Good morning, friends!

Johnn - holy cannoli, what drama on your farm!  I hope the two hens who dukes it out heal up okay!

blarney - neat pic showing your broody area - nice job on that - looks great!  Are the hens still getting along?

bobbie - thanks for posting the info. on moving.  VERY helpful!

I do have a question; I've got broody Giant momma that hatched one redhead chick this past Sunday; broody Marans momma is on day 10 and still holding tight.  I'm wondering if I would be able to put BOTH mommas and babies all together in a large horse stall once the hatchlings from the 2nd batch are a week or so old; Redhead will then be 2 weeks.  Would the hens get along?  Would they harm the other hen's chicks? 

My two broodies HATE each other and once the babies (all silkies from same shipped eggs) hatched and started trying to get around there was often mayhem between the broodies. There was some nipping but no deaths or killer pecking going on.

They settled into their own separate areas within the larger coop and only had problems when the broodies ran into each other out and about. So I'd try it and watch what happens. Hopefully everyone will either get along or hide well from each other.

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

My two broody's are together. They love each other . Before they went broody, the dutch used to pick on the polish. Not anymore! It's nice since if one broody leaves, the other can still keep some eggs warm. Usually they leave together, but that's alright! I'm going to get some pictures today!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I bought some open plastic stackers from Walmart and put pine shavings in them. Planned to move the girls there later tonight but there was such a ruckus going on in the coop because they were hogging two of the three boxes. So I moved them both to open up the nestboxes to the layers. Topsy seemed fine and didn't rush off. But Smokey wanted no part in the move. Oh well I'll do the official move later sonthey will be in place for when the eggs arrive.

 

[Johnn]

Good morning, friends!

Johnn - holy cannoli, what drama on your farm! I hope the two hens who dukes it out heal up okay!

blarney - neat pic showing your broody area - nice job on that - looks great! Are the hens still getting along?

bobbie - thanks for posting the info. on moving. VERY helpful!

I do have a question; I've got broody Giant momma that hatched one redhead chick this past Sunday; broody Marans momma is on day 10 and still holding tight. I'm wondering if I would be able to put BOTH mommas and babies all together in a large horse stall once the hatchlings from the 2nd batch are a week or so old; Redhead will then be 2 weeks. Would the hens get along? Would they harm the other hen's chicks?

I think they both should be fine, they are seperated now though as the hens and chicks had to go back in there broody shed.

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

( My favorite egg V )




Is this a guinea egg? V

 

[bobbieschicks]

( My favorite egg V )




Is this a guinea egg? V

Love the color of the girl on the left. Is she a Polish?

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Tick tock, waiting forever for the last two to hatch their impossibly large clutch. One is the broody from the poarch...i had locked her in for three days, after making sure she was well into her set....day five had her wandering the poarch looking for her nest, I had one opportunity to catch her and just barely got a hold of a foot...back to the pen..this time she stayed put but neither of them have budged...I know they are alive...I keep checking and asking them. When?